Planning Editing Styles - Miss Geourgiou

A variety of editing styles is essential within a music video as it contributes to the overall effect of the music video, whilst ensuring that transitions are able to take place within the video within a format which both makes sense to the audience and is physically appealing to them. Without applying editing styles to a music video it would make a lack of sense as the audience would be unable to follow the narrative and understand it, i.e the different scenes which music videos are known for going back and forth between would make little sense as the audience wouldn't understand how this transition was made or even why it was made?  Hence not only would the audience not be able to follow the actual narrative but they also wouldn't be able to note what various aspects of the music video represent etc. It is important to display a variety of different editing styles so not to bore the audience. Although the average length for a music video differs between four to five minutes which may not appear to be a long time, but when watching the same thing for this entire period of time if the same editing styles are being used often the audience feel as though the experience is being dragged out. Therefore making for a less pleasurable experience for the audience, meaning that the music video shall not be as sufficient in doing it's job of promoting both the song which the music video is paired with and the artist as the audience connotes this negative experience with the artist tarnishing how they view them in future instances.

One editing style I plan to use within my music video is continuity editing. An editing style which is often used within music videos which the audience are made unaware of, continuity editing simply refers to a system of cutting which is used in such a way to display a clear and continuous narrative. Hence being conventional towards the soul genre as it enables the artist in providing the audience with their chosen narrative for their music video. Thus engaging the audience with the story-line meaning that they shall benefit more from the experience the artist is creating for them possibly finding it more relateable hence building a stronger relationship with it as well as the artist. This encourages the audience to grow a further likeness towards the artist as they recognise them with this positive experience. Benefiting the artist as it means that the audience are more likely to look out for their work in the future as they feel this closer bond with the artist meaning that they have therefore become more interested in them. Allowing the audience to closely follow a narrative also encourages them to obtain a greater understanding  for the lyrics within the song as often the narrative portrayed with a music video either follows that of the song or is symbolic of it. Not only do music videos provide a visual experience and image for the audience to place with a song but it also provides them with another outlet to comprehend a further understanding of an artists work. This further understanding builds upon the bond between the audience and the song and therefore also building upon the relationship between the audience and the artist. Continuity editing is a techie which is used throughout various different music videos including that of my chosen artist Amy Winehouse. (Including my chosen song 'In my bed') Continuity editing is conventional towards the soul genre as it aids the  artist is telling their narrative behind their music video which follows codes and conventions of the soul genre as it is known for telling stories as well as trying to make their music as relateable to the audience as possible. Often avoiding the concept of their fame an fortune and referring to universally relateable issues/problems. Continuity editing can be displayed throughout our music video as rather than using a editing style to show the artist entering a different location we can actually show her doing so on screen for instance she could enter into this new location through a door etc. This technique will work for the party scene as the audience sees the artist moving around the party entering different rooms and encountering different people whilst trying to avoid her lover and enjoy her night.

Examples of continuity editing in music videos:

Amy Winehouse 'Stronger than me'

Amy Winehouse 'In my Bed'

Duffy 'Well Well Well'

Arctic Monkeys 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?'











I also plan to use a shot reverse shot editing style so to show the relationship between the artist and the ma she is singing about. I plan to do this at the party scene where the artist is seen getting close to several men at the event. Portraying to the audience how little the artist cares for this man whilst also showing how much he cares for her. This is beneficial as it highlights more of the narrative to the audience  as they are able to see how much the man is suffering due to his affections towards the artist as well as how over him is truly is. As well as signifying her annoyance with him which is referred to throughout the lyrics; "I'm not gunna meet you're mother any time" here Winehouse is informing her lover that she is interested in him in no more than a sexual manner. Hence this technique is conventional towards the genre as again it applies further knowledge to the audience on the matter of the lyrics. Helping to strengthen the audience experience with the song building a greater relationship with it as well as the artist themselves. This shot will go from he artist behaving in a flirtatious manner showcasing her facial expressions as she appears happy and content, certainly not taking into account the fact that she is being watched or possibly even aware at first. Then the shot shall reverse onto the man whose facial expressions shall demonstrate to the audience that he is not only upset but also angered by the artists behavior showcasing that for him the relationship has more to offer. Encouraging the audience to obtain a great understanding of both characters and allowing for sympathy to be applied to either character possibly both. This forces the audience to become more involved with their experience of the music video as they are creating opinions for the music video therefore they also have feels invested  into the video therefore meaning it has been successful in engaging with the audiences attention and shall maintain it throughout the rest of the music video as the audience want to discover the out come.

Examples of a shot reverse shot within music videos:

My chosen artist also displays the use of a shot reverse shot within her music video 'Stronger Than me'. Noting these elements to Winehouse's music video is beneficial to be as it allows me to feel safe in the knowledge that I am capturing a music video which is able to display a true representation of the artist and her work.As well as informing me that I am successfully aiding the codes and conventions of the soul genre to my music video.


Throughout Hilary Duff's music video 'Stranger' there are various uses of a shot reverse shot for instance the scene where the artist walks into her lovers office to find another woman there. As well as when the woman and the artist look at each other as she leaves the room and various different examples around the table where the artist is seen her lover flirting with another woman and they release she is noticing.

Again Within Britney Spears' music video for her song Radar' shot reverse shots are used between Spears and her love interests. Noting on this I realise how conventional it is to use shot reverse shots for lovers or love interests within music videos.Due to this I am considering using shot reverse shots between the artist and the men she is seen flirting with so to build tense and really highlight what is happening between them plus this shall showcase how little she cares for the previous connection she shared with the male she is singing about.

Within Mario's music video for 'Let me Love you' the use of shot reverse shots are also made between the artist and his love interest for the music video.

I also plan to make the use of jump cuts throughout my music video so to highlight the transition between different scenes within my music video. For instance from the scene where the artist is singing in her bedroom to the scene where she is performing on stage continuity editing may not realistically be used. As these locations are clearly far away from each other, also the artist shall be in completely different costumes for the two scenes, and a completely different mood hence a jump cut would be a more realistic technique. Using continuity would likely ruin the effect of the music video as it doesn't make much sense, although  it may be argued that many music videos don't make much sense which is true this isn't so fitting for the soul genre. As the genre is all about being relateable for the audience it makes more sense to do this in a realistic manner as the audience is more easily able to follow this than the mindset of the artist. Allowing them to relate to the artists work and build upon the important bonds which create success around the artist. Hence using a jump cut is conventional towards the soul genre as it is a factor which may be used so to aid soul artists in keeping their music videos following codes and conventions of their chosen genre as it enables them to tell a narrative.

Examples of jump cuts within music videos: 

Various different jump cuts are made throughout Alicia Key's music video for 'Fallin' so to portray the difference between the different scenes and settings to the audience.

Jump cuts are used within Rose McGowan's music video 'RM486' so to show her changes in character.

Within Billie Piper's music video 'Something Deep Inside' jump cuts are also used for transition.

Jump cuts are also used within N Sync's 'Bye Bye Bye'











I'm also considering using a reaction shot, which shall be demonstrated as the artists lover reacts badly to her behavior, this could simply be a reaction shot through the use of a close up showing his  facial expressions allowing the audience an insight into how his feeling and what his thinking. Or it may be a midshot showing him physically reacting to her actions such as throwing a drink. Not only does this represent his feelings towards the situation but it also represents the artists. As she so carefully doesn't care about him or what his doing and is simply focusing on her night and enjoying herself it highlights to the audience how done she is with the situation representing her frustration with him due to the juxtaposition of how they are handling each others presence. The use of this technique shall be conventional towards the genre as it enables the artist to embark upon parts of the narrative, providing the audience with a deeper insight of both the actual narrative itself and the main characters themselves, hence the audience feel more involved with the story-line as well as feeling as though they are closer to the characters hence building further upon existing relationships.

Examples of reaction shots within music videos: 

The Heavy 'How Do You Like Me Now?' displays various different reaction shots as the lead singer of the band is seen reacting to all of the different strange on going he finds in the forest including the cartoon likes mystical women, red ridding hood and many more.

Nelly Furtado's 'Promiscuous girl' displays a reaction shot as Nelly is on the phone to Timbaland and he reacts with his face expressions to what Nelly is saying.

JoJo's music video for 'Too Little Too Late' reactions shots are displayed as JoJo is seen reacting to her boyfriend with facial expressions which represent her anger towards him.







Sugababes 'Push The Button' displays various reaction shots for instance as the lift doors open and the man waiting for the lift sees his love interest. As he does so the audience sees his facial expressions react to this.








Another editing technique I plan to use throughout my music video is that of a black and white filter. Which shall be beneficial as I plan to use it so to help the audience differ between scenes which are taking place in the past and in the present. Therefore meaning that the audience are less likely to become confused and more easily able to follow the narrative, so that the music video is able to perform it's job of promoting both the song and the artist. This is a conventional technique as the idea of black and white representing something which has happened in the past suits the soul genre as in the past color film wasn't available hence viewing black and white film reminds people of this. Therefore indicating that what is been shown has already taken place which is conventional towards the soul genre as it hasn't really developed since the time period it was created (1950s-1960s) this is because the audience of the soul genre enjoy the classic vibes build in with the genre. This editing style has been used within a variety of different music videos including that of my chosen artist Amy Winehouse for her music video 'Back to Black' further highlighting how conventional this technique is towards the soul genre. Examples of black and white filters in music videos Hozier's 'take me to church', Michael Jackson's 'Scream' and Madonna's 'Vogue'.

Editing is a major part of the planning and production of a music video. Not only is it essential for the actual physical creation of a music video but it is also essential so to ensure that the audience is able to enjoy their viewing experience and gain from it what the artist has planned as well as allowing the music video to perform it's job benefiting the artist.